This is my first story on Greek Myths, so go easy on me. I'm not that great with knowing everyone's names or what their roles are… just giving it a go really. The story of Hades and Persephone has to be my favourite and I'm sorry if you think I've got things wrong, but everyone has their own ideas and takes on the story- this is mine.

Obviously I don't own anything. I hope you enjoy and maybe drop me a review to tell me what you think? :) xx

The gods and goddesses crowded around the great hall of Mount Olympus where Zeus and his wife, Hera, sat upon their glittering, golden thrones. They were all awaiting the arrival of Demeter and her new babe that she had given birth to not twenty-four hours ago.

"Do you think the baby will be pretty?" Aphrodite asked Athena, absently stroking her golden hair.

"That would be up to you if you chose to gift the child with beauty."

"That depends whether Zeus wants to us to gift the child at all, after all it came from Demeter," Aphrodite screwed up her nose at the goddesses name, but it still didn't deter her beauty.

"Zeus is the one who slept with Demeter in the first place, so he must have found something interesting." Apollo chimed in, standing next to his twin sister.

Demeter wasn't a very likable goddess; she was too demanding and pompous for the rest of the gods' liking.

"Do you think the child will be like her?" Apollo asked them, before looking down his nose. "Thinking she's too good to interact with us," he said in a girlish voice, trying to play Demeter. He was a childish god who loved to joke around while his sister was more sensible and mature.

"We don't need two of them," Aphrodite sighed, rubbing her forehead. That woman was enough, what was Zeus thinking when he impregnated Demeter… he was probably thinking with the other head.

The grand double doors opened, and wisps of cloud floated in followed by the goddess they had just been speaking about.

She was plumper than all the other females but that didn't mean she was any less attractive, her tan from working in the sun all day shone in the light room. She had dark red tresses piled atop of her oval shaped head, with frosty forest green eyes; she wore a simple dark green peplos that flowed freely about her ankles. Clutched to her ample bosom was a light pink blanket, she held the babe furiously to her as though a bower constrictor coiling around the child's small body- Hera immediately felt sorry for the babe, no matter how much she hated her husband for his infidelity she could not blame the child.

Demeter looked down her nose at all the other gods and goddesses, like Apollo had imitated only moments ago. She made her way to Zeus' throne where he held his arms out for his child, his grin showing off his pearly white teeth and she reluctantly handed her baby over.

"I still think I should name my child," she told him, crossing her arms- she already felt the loss of the little life that had been resting there.

"She is my child too Demeter, I have named all my children and she will be no different." His voice was soft, not wanting to wake his slumbering child, but it still carried authority; Zeus' word was law, so Demeter knew no matter how much she hated it, that she had to submit to him.

But not without one last try. "I've already thought of the perfect name for her."

Zeus decided to humour her knowing that if he didn't listen to her 'perfect name' he'd never hear the end of it. He nodded for her to continue. She smiled triumphantly. "Kore," she said with the utmost pride.

Zeus screwed his nose up as did most other gods, "My daughter shall not be named something so… dull."

He looked down at his youngest, her eyes were closed and she breathed softly- sleeping peacefully. "Her name with be Persephone," he declared gently so not to wake her, but all the other gods heard and smiled at the name- it was pretty. And as far away from meaning 'Maiden' as possible.

"My child shall not be called something that means 'Destroy'!" Demeter practically screeched, waking the child abruptly, causing her to whimper at her mother's cold and loud tone. "Oh my Kore," she cried out, motherly concern outweighing her rage on the choice of name, reaching for the child.

Zeus stood quickly before she could reach the crying child, he already felt protective of her, knowing her mother would smother her in coos and tight hugs. He rocked Persephone gently, holding her close but loosely, giving her room to stretch and wriggle.

The gods looked on with smug expressions at Demeter's shocked face, she'd never been denied anything before and surely she'd be enraged at not being given her own child.

Persephone had stopped now and just stared at her father with the most stunning eyes he'd ever seen on any of his children. They were a jade green, but they seemed almost transparent as though looking through tinted glass. They were curious as they searched his face, as though trying to understand who he was.

"Who would like to hold her first?" Zeus asked ignoring Demeter's squeals of protest, demanding that he give her little girl back and she would not be handed around like an object.

"I'll give my gift first," Aphrodite said, taking the child from Zeus' strong arms. It was customary for the Olympian gods and goddesses to bestow gifts upon the child, either giving an object or perhaps a quality the child would acquire when older.

Aphrodite didn't know if her gift would be effective or not, the child was already gorgeous, but just to be sure... "You shall be one of the most beautiful goddesses, having a heart overflowing with love," she announced, stroking Persephone's soft, pink cheek before blowing a kiss her way, a pink, fluffy cloud in the shape of a heart former around Persephone's face.

Apollo was next, he cradled the child gently to him. "You will have a beautiful singing voice that will be able enchant anyone with its sound." He smiled down at the child, who gave a gummy smile back causing his to widen.

He passed her onto his twin Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Usually she would give the child an animal but today was different. "You will have a voice that will be able to sooth even the most frantic of animals, they will all care and respect your kind nature." The rest of the gods looked on in bemusement; Artemis had never given a gift like that.

So each and every Olympian god gave the child a gift while Demeter huffed in annoyance every so often. Hades had stayed silence during the whole ceremony, standing out of the way clad in his dark robes. He was the last god to give a gift, he always was as it was easier this way- the child would always cry as soon as it came into contact with him and it always took ages to calm the babe down after the little thing was traumatized by the sight of the King of the Dead.

Hermes grimaced as he gave the child to the god of the Underworld, and everyone tensed ready for the shrieks to erupt from the child's mouth and Demeter was poised like a mother bear, ready to attach at any given moment.

Hades also braced himself for the horrified wail and tears, silently cursing this stupid tradition. The baby was as light as a cloud, positioned in the palms of his hands which he held away from his body. Demeter would have told him to be more careful and hold her daughter properly, but was too gobsmacked by the sound of silence.

Hades glanced down at the child to look for tears; maybe she was a silent crier? She was staring up at him with curiosity and her little rosy lips were drawn into a small line. She started to wriggle around causing him to pull her closer for fear of dropping her. At first he thought she was trying to get away from his hold, but as soon as she succeeded in pulling her arms from the confides on the pink blankets she lifted her tiny hands up, as though to try and reach out to him.

Hermes was the first to break the silence his blue eyes sparkling in amusement, "I think she likes you Hades." Hermes was the only god that would really talk to him, apart from his brothers, being the god that escorted the dead to the Underworld.

This broke Demeter out of her trance, "She does not! She is simply too frightened to cry, he's probably scared her to silence."

"I wish you could be scared into silence woman," Hades' voice was soft and husky, never going above a shout but his glower was enough to send any god running. The rest of the gods looked smug again at Demeter's expression, Hades was never afraid to insult someone.

Hades' gaze softened as he brought it back to Persephone's adorable face- adorable… he'd never used that word before- when he saw her expression he nearly gasped, but controlled himself. He did not show emotion around the gods.

She was smiling at him, a real genuine smile. There was no trace of fear or hesitation on her face; if he'd been alone he would have allowed his own lips to quirk upwards.

"Aww, she really likes you. She's smiling!" Hermes said, getting everyone's attention as they all crowded around her- she'd smiled at each and everyone of them but to smile at the god of the Underworld was something amazing in itself. Demeter also joined the gathering, pushing and shoving everyone in her way on her quest to her little one.

"She is probably tired-move!-I need to take her home."

Zeus chuckled, "Nonsense, this is her home, with her father and siblings." She noted that he didn't include 'mother' in that sentence and immediately started to panic at the thought of being away from her precious little Kore. Noticing the look on her face he knew he'd have to relent, he couldn't keep her only child from her, and he knew that where Persephone was Demeter wouldn't be far- he wouldn't be able to cope with that.

Nor would anyone else judging by their glares aimed at Demeter. "Hades, why don't you give Persephone her gift," he said nodding to his brother.

Hades nodded, but then glared at everyone else still crowded around him causing them all to take several steps back- he was the dreaded god of the Underworld after all. They didn't need to hear his gift anyway, it was always the same anyway- a piece of jewellery- an armband for the gods and a bracelet for the goddesses.

He lowered his head to hers, his mouth by her little ear and his black shoulder length hair creating a curtain around their faces, whispering to her. "My gift to you, my darling Persephone is anything you desire. All you have to do is tell me and I will do everything in my power to give it to you." He pulled his head up, his face still so close, close enough for her to reach her hands out and lay her palm flat on cheek, her forefinger connecting with the corner of his mouth.

He pursed his lips a fraction, giving her finger a soft kiss- the first kiss he'd ever given anyone- causing her to giggle with delight.

He pulled her hand away from his face quickly but gently, knowing that the gods couldn't see him in a situation such as this. He carefully pushed the golden bracelet with three rubies encrusted on the top over her little hand and onto her wrist. He made it so it grew when she did, and made it so only she could take it off if she wished to, not her mother who would most certainly try to get it off the moment they were home.

"Are you done yet?" Demeter demanded, stalking up to the god of the Underworld, ready to snatch his Persephone out of his strong hold. He gave an inaudible sigh, he'd never be done with this, but even with that thought he begrudgingly handed her back to her mother.

Demeter immediately pushed Persephone's arms back into the blanket and wrapped it tightly around her as though she'd catch a chill. Persephone tried to squirm out of the cocoon, but Demeter didn't give her a chance as she hushed her and held her fast to her chest. "Don't worry my sweet Kore, he shall never touch you again," she vowed to the wriggling child, and little Persephone whimpered as though protesting.

"He shall never lay a finger on you," Demeter sighed out once more, stalking to the double doors at the end of the room.

Not if he had anything to do with it.